Timeline for Deciding on a Career / Major

Freshman Year:

Determine if you want to obtain an Associate of
Arts or Associate of Science degree. Depending on the degree
you are seeking, you will have specific required courses to take.
For example, if you are going for an AS, you should enroll in
a science course every semester.

Meet with your academic advisor to discuss the
courses you should take each semester based on the preliminary
majors that you are considering. Establish a strong relationship
with your advisor. They can help you with the decision
making process and provide you with information about different
majors.

Begin checking into academic requirements for
the majors/careers you are considering. How many years
of college does each career require? What majors are appropriate
for each career? What universities offer that major?

Develop an action plan for the upcoming year that
details exactly what steps you will take to narrow your list
of potential majors.

Sophomore Year:

To learn more about necessary skills and qualifications
of a career, conduct informational interviews with instructors/professionals
or set up a job shadow appointment.

Choose your courses carefully. Enroll in electives
that will enhance your future employment opportunities and give
you a basic foundation for major coursework.

Continue to explore career related websites. Using
the information you have gathered, make a list of all of the
positive and negative features of the majors/careers you are
considering and narrow your major choices to three. By
your last semester at Cowley, you should have your major choices
narrowed to one or two.

Continue to gain work experience through volunteering,
internships, and part time jobs.

Keep your advisor informed of your decisions on
a major and transfer institution.

Update or begin to write a resume of your qualifications,
courses and experiences.

Begin networking with professionals in your field
through professional memberships and campus/community involvement.